Refrigerator



E. T. MORTON Oct. 14, 1 952 REFRIGERATOR 5 Sheet's-Sheet l Filed Jan. 6,1947 E. T. MORTON Oct. 14, 1952 REFRIGERATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan.6, 1947 E. T. MORTON Oct. 14, 1952 REFRIGERATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledJan. 6, 1947 E. T. MORTON Oct. 14, 1952 REFRIGERATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed Jan. 6, 1947 Patented Oct. 14, 1952 Evans T, Morton,'Ghicago,"ll`l., la'ssigiior lto Ad- `fxnr`al Corporation, Chicago,-Ill., `-'a corporation idf Delaware vApplitation,.Ianiiary's,194vseria1No. 732.0;'330

(c1. 1oz-103) "s claims.

The present iiiverftion'relates'to refrigerators. The principal objectof the present :invention is to provide an improvedmulti-temperature--rei'i'gerater having ja 'single storage compartmentwhich is v:divided 'into two l"or more spaces which jmay vbe cooled to'differenttemperatures 4Anci-,her object is to Vvprovideariimprovedfrre- 'frigerato'r vhaving a storage compartment liner whichisgformedftcreoeive V"a Y: :ooling element.

Another object kis Ato provide an improved `refrigerator having a'sealed refrigeration System which is readily .removable from-andreplaceable into theicatinet.`

A further 'object "ijs `to provide an improved multi-tempera-tnrerefrigerator having *astorage compartment which is divided into twostorage spaces 'by a shelf, Aa part ci whichis formed by the coolingelement.

Still another object is `toprovide yan improved 'multi-temperature*refrigerator having a rstorage compartment divided into vstorage"spacesby Ia refrigerated shelf which 'co'ols both spaces, and having #aninsulated 'shieldto restrict the `cooling eiect of the'shelf on 1onen!the-spaces.

And a further-object 'is toprovide'a multi-temperature -refrigererator.having `means for con trolling the refrigeratin'gfsystem `so thattheload in the storage compartment is compensated for rapidly tomaintain v"the storage compartment tempera-tine `sllbstar'itiallyvviihifornfl.

Other objects land vac'vaxita'ges will 'become apparent Vfrom thevfollovvii'i'g description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings wherein-2 Fig. 1 is afront elevational view of a'refrigeratorembodying the present invention andshovvn with the iront door removed;

Fig". 2 iS lan llllgd ('If''SS- ctit'jl View through the upper-portionof the refrigerator and may be .considered as `being taken substantiallyon the `line`2 2 of Fi-g. i1, looking in the'diection of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the evaporator portion of theVrei-rig'era-'nt circulating -s'lj'stem;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-secticnal view taken substantallyon theline 4;-4 'of Fig.- 2,'10king in the direction of the-arrows;

Fig. 5 is 'a horizontal crossiseotiorial "view taken substantially onthe `line `5 5 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail 'cross-sectional vi'evv taken substantiallyon 'the line 8--6 of'rjig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;and

access opening I6.

'L'Ihe refrigerator indicated kgen'erallfyby the reference character I0ycon'lpri'se's 'a cabinet having a rfood"storage'compartment I2 and vavmacljlinery compartment I4. The 'storage "space I 2 has 'a front accessopening I6 which is closed by a heat insulated door I8. The do'o-r I8may be constructed as disclosed in the copending 'application yof EvansT. Morton, seriaiNo. 719,669, nled January '2, 1947, yand `entitledRefrigerator Cab/- inet Construction, and it comprises 'an outermetallic shell 20 secured to an inner panel 22 of 'a thermallynonconductive material and is provided with a 'peripheral sealing gasket24. The gasket seals against a flange 26 Ain the front face of thecabinet to 'seal the compartment I2 against theatmosphere.

The cabinet is formed by an outer shell 28 which has the doublethickness flange 26 formed 'at its forward edge; a second flange 30 isalso 'iormedat the jfront of the shell but slightly to the 'rear of theflange 26. At its rear edge the shell 28 has a 'lian-ge 3 2 to Which-'issecured, as by Welding,'a `rear panel 34 which closes the rear of therefrigerator cabinet. rllhe refrigerator is mounted -o'n a base frame 36'which also-forms the support for the refrigerant liq'uefyng orcondensing unit which may be of the motor-compressor type or any other'suitable type which will condense gasolls or vapoll'zed refrigerantinto 'a liquid for cooling the storage compartment I2. That which isdag'raimmatically illustrated comprises 'a inotor-compressor 35 and acoil condenser 31.

A liner 38, ydefining the 'storage-space I2, is secured Within the frame'and is of a generally boxlike 'shape With its forward side open todefine the Around its open side the liler 38 has a forwardly-facing hnge40 t `Which is Asl'z'llied a plurality of blocks 42. The blocks 42 aresecured at their opposite 'side to thea'nge 30,

ing, .if preferred, self-tapping screws. These blocks 42, therefore,mount theliner '3s within the cabinet. The "gap betweith Bange 2G the 3vices. The juncture between the breaker element 44 and the ange 26 isclosed by an ornamental trim piece 48.

The space between the liner 38 and the outer shell is completely filledwith thermal insulating material 50 such as Balsa w'ool, Aero felt orrockwool, and may be placed around the liner in any suitable manner.

The food storage compartment |2 is divided into three refrigeratedspaces, 52, 54 and 56. Space 52 is separated from the space 54 by arefrigerated shelf 58, and the space 54 is separated from the space 58by an insulated divider or shield 88 taking the form of a drip tray.These elements will be more fully described hereinafter. The space 58 isused for the storage of food and has a plurality of shelves 64preferably of Wire or other openwork construction to permit freecirculation cf air through the compartment. Lowest shelf 54 may be madeof glass to cover trays 66 which are provided for the storage of bulkfoods such as lettuce, celery, tomatoes, fruit and the like. Anincandescent lamp 68 is mounted on the back wall of the compartment andmay be turned on as an incident to the opening of the door I8.

The shield 60 only partially separates or cuts off communication betweenthe spaces 54 and 56 so as vto allow circulation of air through thespace 54 from and into the space 58 to effect cooling of the space SB.The space 52 is further-separated fromthe spaces 54 and58 by a door 10.The door'l' is formed with an outer ornamental face member ,'II made ofplastic material to which a handleIS is secured. The rear of the door isclosed by a plate 69 and the space between the face member 'H and theplate 69 is filled with suitable insulation 87. A wire hinge 'I2 biasesthe door-'I0 to the closed position, the movement to the vertical orclosed position` being limited by a stop '15.Y The door I0 is ofthe typethat pulls vdown `and forms a temporary shelf or support while in thedown position and is hinged at its sidesto a suitable bracket 14; themovement to the `horizontal position is limited by a stop 11.

The refrigerator is cooled'by a refrigerating system which includes thepreviouslymentioned and diagrammatically illustrated liquefying orcondensingl unit comprising the compressor 35 and the condenser 3l whichis connected to an evaporator or cooling element 'I6 vby means of acapillary tube lil. The outlet from the evaporator leads to-anaccumulator80 which is in turn connectedto the compressor 35 by asuction tube 82. rlhe operation of the refrigerating system iscontrolled by a compensating control which will be describedhereinafter.

Referring particularly to Figs.2 and3, it Will be seen that thecapillary tube `|8 is connected to a-tube 84 of slightly larger diameterwhich connects the capillary tube to anupper evaporator coil 86. Theupper evaporator coil 86 is permanently affixed in a suitablemanner, asby welding, to a radiating plate 88 which gives the effect of providingthe evaporator coils 86 with The top of the wall of the liner 38 isformed with a recess 90 which is only slightly greater in 'depth'thanthe combined thickness of the 'evaporator coils 86 and plate 88 andfurther is formed With'recesses 92 in which are permanently securedthreaded sleeves 94. The topv portion of the evaporator is secured inthe recess 90 by screws Sli-which are threaded into the sleeves 94. Asealing gasket 98 extends completely around the periphery of the plate88 and has a portion |00 confined between the upper face of the plate 88and the threaded sleeves 94 for holding the gasket in place. The plate88 is provided With an upturned edge |02 which presses the sealinggasket 98 against the upper wall of the recess 90 in vanv airtightmanner. The heads of the screws S5 may be covered'by a flat portion |04of the gasket 98. The gasket 98 seals the space between the plate 88 andthe liner to prevent circulation of air between that space and thecompartment I2 and to prevent the accumulation of frost on the coils 86.

The plate 88 is formed with a depressed portion |06 which provides forthe entrance of the lead-in tube 84which is sealed against the plate 88by a suitable vsealing grommet made of a rubber-like material. The exitend of the evaporator coil extends through a second suitable sealinggrommet |08 and has a downwardly-projecting tube portion H0. y

The lower portion of the evaporator or cooling element 'I6 is formed ofa coil H2 similar to the coil 88 which is secured to a radiating plateH4 in a goodheat exchange relation. The inlet to the coil H2 is formedby a generally vertically extending tube H8 which is connected to thetube H0 at ||8,` and this connection is made gastight by weldingor othersuitable means. The outlet of the evaporator coil H2 is connected to theaccumulator 80.

Both coils 86 and II'2 are arranged to provide maximum adsorption ofheat from their respective plates 88 and H4. The configuration of coilH2 is seen in Fig. 4, and coil 86 is similarly formed, the loopscoveringthe plates in an even and regular manner.

It will be seen from Fig. 2 that the accumulator and the connectingtubing I|0 and IIB are contained within the space 52. They are coveredby'a suitable shield |20 extending to the rear wall of the liner andvwhich is secured to the plate H4 by means of a tab |22 struck up fromthe plate H4 so as to receive screws |24. This shield protects thetubing accumulator from being bumped by ice trays or foods or otheritems which may be stored in the space 52.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2, 4 and 6, the plate'II4 Withtheattached evaporator tubing H2 is secured to a support or frame |26 whichextends around the three sides of the liner 38 and across the front ofthe storage compartment I2. The frame |26 preferably is made of a moldedplastic material so that the plate H4 and coil H2 are separated from thewalls of the liner 38 by a thermally nonconducting material. Thecross-sectional configuration of the frame |28 can-best be seen in Fig.6 which shows it to have a flat central portion |28 surrounded by anupstanding ilange |30. The ange |30 extends around and is slightlyspaced from the three walls of the liner 38; the flange |30 is bent orturnedtoward the walls at |32. A suitable sealing gasket |34 having aslotted bottom edge |36 is secured over the top of the flange |30 and isbiased against the Walls of the liner 33 to seal the space 52 from thespace 54 around the three edges of the frame |26. At its inner edge theframe 26 is provided with a depressed flange portion |38 lying parallelto the portion |28. At regular spaced intervals the depressed portionA|38 is raised as at |40 to provide mountings for the plate I I4. Theplate H4 has its edge turned back upon itself to provide a peripheralportion |42 of double thickness of metal, and suitable screws |44passing through the -portion |42 secure the plate I I4 and evaporatorcoil ||2 to the supporting frame |26. i

The plate I I4 is of such size that it isgslightly smaller than theopening provided by the portion |28 of the frame |26 and is larger than.the opening formed by the inner edge of the'llange |38. A gap |46 isthus provided between the peripheral edge of the plate ||4 and thesurface of the frame |26 equal to the height of the mountings |48. Thisgap serves as a space through which the water .runs during thedefrosting operations into the shield 60 which is formed as a drip ormoisture receiving tray. The top surface of the flat portion |28 of theframe |26 and the top surface of the plate |I4 lie in the `same plane soas to provide a shelf in the compartment 52'upon which may be placed thetrays for making ice cubes and the other foodstuffs which are to bestored in the refrigerator.

At its front edge the frame |26 has a slightly inclined portion |48 sothat any moisture lwhich is formed thereon will run toward the gap |46.There is also provided a stepped-down portion |50 at the front so thatwhen the door is pulled down its rear face will be on approximately thesame level as the refrigerated shelf 58. The portion |50 also reducesthe air space between the refrigerated shelf 58 and the'shield or` tray60.

The refrigerated shelfy 58 and the tray 60 are mounted in the cabinet ona combined mounting means which is formed by a pair of angle members|52; each angle |52 has a vertical flange |54 held flat against a sidewall |56 of the liner 36 and a horizontal flange |58 to which is securedthe frame |26. The flat portion |28 of the frame |26 lies on'top of theflange |58 and is secured thereto by suitable screws |60.

The tray 60 is supported on a wire |62 the shape of which is best seenin Figs. 2, 5 and 6. The wire has a 4horizontal longitudinal portion |64terminating at its forward end in a short horizontal transverse portion|66 and extends vertically in a loop |68 around the shank of a screw |10which secures the' forward end of the angle |52 against the liner wall|56. The `rear end of the wire |62 terminates in a short upstandingportion |12 and is bent at right angles to form a short transverseportion |14. The portion 14 is connected to a forwardly `extendingportion |16 which has a loop |18 around the shank of a screw |80 whichsecures the rear of the angle |52 against the wall |56.

Other screws |82 are placed intermediate the screws |10 and |80 furtherto secure the angle |52 in place. No angle is placed across the backwall of the cabinet so that free access may be had into the compartmentI2 for removing and replacing the evaporator 16. The drip tray 60 isformed at its opposite sides with flanges |84 which ride on the top edgeof the wires |62,'an d the inward movement of the tray 60 is llimited bythe upstanding portion |12 of the wire. lThis positions the tray Withinthe compartment so that it is spaced from the walls of the compartment|2 on all four sides, the front wall being considered'as the inner panel22 of the door I8 (Fig. 5).

The tray 60 is formed of a pair. of similarly dish-shaped members |86and |88 which are spaced apart over their bottoms and sides and whichare molded or cemented together attheir outer edges, as at |90. Themembers |86 and |86 may be made of a moldable plastic material, and, thespacebetween them isffllled with a suitable vheat insulating material|92. At the .sides thefused `portions |90 fform :the .side flanges |84which `ride upon therails F62 to support the tray 60 `in the cabinet..At the fronty of the tray the molded Aedges |90fform-the front flange|84'which is fitted `with an ornamental handle |96 by vmeans of whichthe tray may be removed from and inserted 1into the storage space. vTheange |94 is slotted at to allow air to circulate from the space 56 intothe space y54 as will be explained hereinafter. The top edges of themember|88 are sloped inwardly and downwardly toward the center of thetray 60. The tray 60 is placed below ythe refrigerated shelf 58 so thatit receives the water which will flow from the refrigerated shelf 58andthrough the spaces |46 during defrosting operations and dripping fromthe coil ||2 during normal operation of the refrigerator. While therefrigerator is operating the plate 88 is ycooled by the coil 86 and afrost forms thereon. During ythe defrosting operation this frostmelts'and 4the water runs through Ythe spaces |46 into the tray'60. l

The-refrigerant circulating system is removable Y as `a unit fromtherefrigerator and replaceable thereinto. To this end the liner 38 isprovided with a rear opening |98 surrounded bya flange 200. The openingv|68 is closed by a vremovable panel or door -202 Awhich issealedagainst the flange 22by a gasket204. Suitable screws 206 securethe door 202 `in place. It will be noted that the width of the .opening|98 is somewhat narrower than the evaporator plate ||4 and consequentlyit is tilted when passed through the door. Actually the plate I I4 istilted relative to the plate 88; the connecting tubing |I0, `I I6between the two plates is vbent in order that this be done. The bend iseasily made because the tubing is relatively thin-Walled.

A corresponding opening 208 is formed in the rear wall panel 32 and` issurrounded by a recess 2|0. The opening 208 is closed by a pan-shapedpanel 2|2 filled with suitable heat insulating material 2|4. A sealinggasket 2|6 is conned between the panels 34 vand2 2, and the .jointismade secure by suitable metal screws 2 8. The space in the insulatedsectionof the refrigerator immediately `behind `the removable door 202is filled with blankets or pads of insulating material 220 which isreadily removable.

The lead-in tube 84 and the suction tube 82 are sealed against theremovable door 202 by a suitable grommet 222 Where these tubes passthrough the doorand into the insulated space. A similar .grommet is usedto seal the capillary tube 18 and the suction tube 82 with the `panel 2|2 kwhere they pass from the insulated space to go down to the machinerycompartment I4.

The evaporatorl is readied for removal from the cabinet -by removing thescrews 98 which secure the evaporator plate 88 and tubing 86 in therecess 98v and by removing the screws |44 which secure the plate ||4 andcoil ||2 to the supporting frame |26.` The shield |20 is removed byremoving the screws |24. It is usually neces- `Sary to remove theshield-so-that the tubing I |0, |46 may be bent Vso that the plate ||4may be tilted relative to the plate 88. As the frame |26 extends acrossthe opening |98 it must be removed through the front access opening I6;screws |60 securing the .frame |26 to the angle |52 are, therefore,removed.. The rear panel 2|2 is removed as is the insulation 22|)between the panels 2|2 and 202. The insulation 220 is loose or in padsso as to be readily removable and yet be packed around the conduits andcontrol elements present at the rear of the evaporator. The evaporator16 together with the accumulator and the associated tubing is removed asa unit from the food storage compartment I2. The liquefying orcondensing unit is removed from the machinery compartment I4 in a wellknown manner. It is thus seen that a hermetically sealed refrigeratingcirculating unit can be used with this refrigerator and be removed fromand replaced into the cabinet in a very short time. This permits therepair of the refrigerant circulating system at the place of manufactureof the system and removes the necessity of breaking any of theconnections in the refrigerant circulating line or tubing.

The refrigerator of this invention provides a freezing temperaturestorage space and a compartment for making ice cubes in the space 52.This space is the coldest in the refrigerator since it is confineddirectly between and cooled by the evaporator coils 86 and II 2. It ispossible to refrigerate or cool the space 52 to a temperature of about12 F. which will give correspondingly desirable temperatures in theremainder of the refrigerator.

'I'he space 52 is effectively separated and insulated from the remainderof the refrigerator by the coating of frostA which forms after a shortperiod of operation between the evaporator plate II4 and the frame |26.This frost, therefore, closes the openings I 46 between the frame |26vand the evaporator plate II4. This coating of frost, furthermore,insulates the space 52 from the space 54. As hereinbefore pointed out,the space 52 is further separated from the other-storage spaces by thedoor 10 which is at thefront of the refrigerator. This door, however,does not seal either against the frame I26`or the liner 38 because thelayer of frost which would form around the periphery of the door wouldfreeze the door shut and there is a smallleakage of cold ai from aroundthe door 10.

The space 54 between the refrigerated shelf 58 and the tray 60 is cooleddirectly by the coils II2. Because of the proximity of the coil II2 theair in this space would be about 12 F. This space thus may be used forthe storage of ice cubes (in the tray 60) and frozen foods. l

The space 56 is cooled by circulation of air through the space 54. Testswhich have been made on this refrigerator show that the warm air ascendsin the compartment 56 primarily along the front thereof, that is, alongthe inner panel 22 of the door I 8. The air enters the space 54 throughthe slots |85 in the flange |84 of the tray 60. It crosses between theevaporator II2 and the tray 60 and spills over the side edges and backedge of the tray 6U into the space 56. Fig. 5 shows the tray orinsulated shield 60 to be spaced on all four sides from the walls of thecompartment I2 so as to provide for the free circulation of air throughthe space between the liner and door walls and the edges of the tray orshield 6U.

The space 56 is provided with wire shelves 62 or shelves of equivalentstructure so that the'air will circulate freely through the compartmentwithout its path being obstructed or in any way directed by theconstruction of the shelves. The storage of foodstuffs on the shelves 64ordinarily does not objectionably obstruct the air circulation as theair passes between and around the stored items. If desired, the glassshelf 64 might be provided with openings along its rear and front 8edges for a restricted circulation of air through the trays 66.

The means for controlling the refrigeration system is shown in Fig. 2and comprises a compensating type thermostatic control 224 which ismounted in the upper rear of the cabinet by a U-shaped bracket 226. Thebracket 226 is spotwelded to the rear wall panel 34 and provides athrust bearing 228 for a control rod 230. The control rod extends to thefront of the cabinet and a knob 232 is removably attached to its outerend. The breaker element 44 is recessed at 234, and the recess iscovered by an escutcheon plate 236 held in place by suitable fasteners238.

'I'he thermostatic control 224 is of the bellows type, having a pair offeeler bulbs 240 and 242. Feeler bulb 240 is removably secured to theevaporator plate I I4 by a bracket 244 and is thus responsive to itstemperature. Feeler bulb 242 is removably secured by bracket 246 to therear face of the panel 202 at the top of the space 56 just below theshield 60 and responds to the temperature of the panel 202 which in turnis affected by the temperature of the air in the space 56. The tubingconnecting the bulbs 249 and 242 to the control 224 is flexible and maybe bent out of the way during removal or insertion of the evaporatorassembly so that the control system will not be damaged.

A compensating bellows type control which may be used in therefrigerator of this invention is shown in Fig. 7. The bulb 248 isconnected to a bellows 248 which expands against the force exerted by aloading spring system 250. The shaft 230 is connected to the control 224by arotatable bracket 252 so that the temperature range within which therefrigerating system operates may be manually regulated. The bellows 248is connected to the loading spring system 25|)` by a shaft 254 to whicha lever 258 is pivoted at 253. One end of the lever 256 bears againstthe outer end of the short arm of a floating bell crank lever 260, thelonger arm of which carries a stop 262 adapted to engage an abutment264. The lever 260 carries an extension 266 adapted to be engaged by apart of the bracket 252 so that the refrigeration system may be placedin the off condition.

The lever 260 is biased to the position shown in Fig. 7 by a leaf spring268 which has one end anchored to a bracket 210 and its opposite endsecured to the longer arm of the lever 260. The leaf spring 268 alsocarries an L-shaped arm 212 which actuates an over dead center beam 214for the vcontact blade 216 of a snap switch 211, the beam 214 having oneend pivoted to the contact blade 216 and the other end biased toward theleft (Fig. 7) by a spring member 218. A pair of contacts 280 in thecompressor motor circuit and which are carried by the blade 216 and theabutment 264 complete the snap switch. The snap switch is of thenormally closed type.

At its other end the lever 256 carries a pin 282 against which one arm284 of a bell crank lever 286 is held by means of a tension spring 288hooked to arm 290. The bell crank lever 286 is pivoted about a fixedpivot 292 and is movable by expansion and contraction of a compensatingbellows 294 connected to the feeler bulb 242.

As the bellows 294 4expands relative to expane sion of the bellows 248the bell crank lever 286 is pivoted in a clockwise direction about thepoint 292 and the arm 284 tends to leave the pin 282. However, the lever256 rotates in a counterclockn wise direction about its pivot 258 by theaction amano of the spring member 268 on the lever 2,60. 'I 'his ensuresthat the snap switch closes with less expansion of the bellowsy 248 orremains closed until the bellows 248 contracts sufficiently, therebylowering the temperature range within which the control operates.VReverse compensating action takes place when vthe bellows 294 contractsrelative to contraction in the bellows 248. When both bellows expand orcontract proportionately no compensating action takes place in thecontrol 224. The feeler bulb 240 actuates thev control to start and stopthe condensing unit of the refrigeration system. The controlv 224 is setto respondto a temperature differential range on the evaporator plate|14, and by maintaining the plate temperature within this'range, itcontrois' the air temperatures in the spaces 52, 54 and t; l

Should the load in the space 56 be increased, ordinarily it would not beresponded to immediately or rapidly by the refrigerated shelf 58 landthe rate of circulation of air through the space 5d would not beappreciablyv increasedbecause the cooling effect of the coil H2 andplate Il4 would remain unchanged. However, the feeler bulb 242, securedto the rear face of the lpanel M2 responds to the panel temperature,which in turn is affected by the temperature of the air in the space 56.With this increase iniload, the feeler bulb 242 operates the control 224to reset the upper and lower limits of the temperature range on theplate ll4 downwardly by -the same amount so that the range differentialremains the same. The resetting of theselimits in a downward directioncauses the evaporator'coil i i4 to increase its rate of absorption ofheat from the air circulating through the space 54 and thus increasesthe rate of circulation. With this control, therefore, the rate ofcirculation of air through the space 54 is increased by two factors, theincrease in load in the space 5B, and the increase in absorption of heatby the evaporator. With the increased rate of air circulation and theincreased rate of heat absorption, `the air temperature in the space 56is rapidly cooled to normal.

As the temperature in the space jisbrought to the desired or normalrange of temperatures, the feeler bulb 242, responding `to thistemperature change, resets the control 224 to raise the upper and lowerlimits of thetemperaturerange to which the feeler bulb -240' on theplate |l4 is responsive and thus return therefrigeration s ystem tonormal operation.

If the air temperature inthe Vspace z52 is'gabout 12 F. the `temperaturein the space 56 will be maintained approximately within the range of38-46" F. because the circulation of air through the space '54 isrestricted by the passages provided by the slots |95 and the spacebetween the side and back edges of the tray 6D and the liner Sil.Furthermore, cooling by direct absorption of heat from the air or othermaterial contained within the space 5'5 is minimized by the insulatingcharacteristics of the shelf 6B, it being made of plastic material whichis thermally nonconductive and the space between the plastic walls beingfilled with a heat insulating material.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the objects of thisinvention have been attained and that the refrigerator provides for alow cost construction multi-temperature refrigerator having some of theadvantages of a multitemperature refrigerator wherein the compart- 10ments are isolated or insulated from each other and, are. Separately'COOld- While a single modification of the present invention has beenshown (and described, it will be apparentV toA those skilled in theartthat numerous modifications and departures may be made therefromwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the'present invention.lWhat, therefore,l is claimed as new and desired to be secnredby LettersPatent is: f

l, ln a refrigerator, a compartment defining linen/thermal insulationvsurrounding said liner, yaJ portion of the upper wall of said linerbeing formed to provide a recess open to the interior of suchcompartment, a cooling element located in. said recess substantiallyflush with the inner surface of said liner adjacent vsaid recess, andsealing means for preventing air circulation between the'main spaceinside of said liner' and the space between saidcooling element andtherecessed portion of said liner thereby to prevent an objectionableaccumulation of frost in the last mentioned space.

l2. ln a refrigerator, means defining a compartment', a partitiondividingjsaid compartment intoa pair of lrefrigerated spaces, saidpartition including a' frame having an opening therethrough, and anevaporator element positioned so as substantially to close said openingand forming with said frame a gap through which moisture may flow, saidevaporator serving to effect cooling of both s aid'spaces, and aninsulated tray positioned below and adjacent said evaporator to receivethe moisture from said evaporator and said gap and to restrict thecooling of thelower space by said evaporator.

'3. In a refrigerator, a cabinet including means .defining acompartment,a removable refrigerating system installed in said cabinet, a pluralityof wall openings in said cabinet, a removable insulated wall sectionclosing one of said openings .and removable with `saidrefrigeratingsystem, said .system including a pair of horizontallydisposed vertically spaced evaporator sections located withsaid'compartment ,and interconnected'by tubularmeans, a horizontallydisposed frame gaf-'thermally non-conductive material Vsecure'd toopposite walls of said wallcompartment fdening n'leans, .said framehaving a central opening therethrough, and means removably securing oneof v(said evaporator sections in said frame opening'substantially toclose the latter thereby to ,deflnea wallrdividing said compartment intoa pair of refrigeratedspaces, said evaporator sections being removablethrough the opening closed by said removable insulated wall section.

4. In a refrigerator, a compartment dening liner insulated from theatmosphere and provided with an access opening at one side thereof, arefrigerated shelf dividing the compartment into a pair of refrigeratedspaces, said refrigerated shelf comprising a generally horizontallyarranged frame having four sides to define an opening therethrough,three sides of said frame closely paralleling the walls of said linerand the fourth side extending across said access opening, said framebeing made of a material having low thermal conductivity, means sealingsaid frame against the walls of said liner, an evaporator element havinga shelf forming plate at the upper side thereof secured to said framesubstantially to close the opening formed therein and to be supportedthereby, and means below said shelf' and spaced from the walls of saidliner to restrict the cooling effect of said evaporator element wherebythe temperature in the space occupied by said last-mentioned means issubstantially higher than that in the other space.

5. In a refrigerator, a compartment defining liner insulated from theatmosphere and provided with an access opening at one side thereof, arefrigerated shelf defining thereabove with said liner a space apartfrom the remainder of the space in the compartment, said refrigeratedshelf comprising a generally horizontally arranged frame having foursides to define an opening therethrough, three sides of said frameclosely paralleling the walls of said liner and the fourth sideextending across said access opening, said frame being made of amaterial having low thermal conductivity, means sealing said frameagainst the walls of said liner, and an evaporator element having ashelf forming plate at the upper side thereof secured to said framesubstantially to close the opening formed therein and to be supportedthereby, and a door substantially closing the access opening to saidfirst named space, said door and said shelf serving substantially toprevent circulation of air from said space to the remaining space in thecompartment.

6. In a refrigerator, a compartment defining liner insulated from theatmosphere and provided with an access opening at one side thereof, arefrigerated shelf defining thereabove with said liner a space apartfrom the remainder of the space in the compartment, said refrigeratedshelf comprising a generally horizontally arranged frame having foursides to define an opening therethrough, three sides of said frameclosely paralleling the walls of said liner and the fourth sideextending across said access opening, said frame being made of amaterial having low thermal conductivity, means sealing said frameagainst the walls of said liner, and an evaporator element having ashelf forming plate at the upper side thereof secured to said framesubstantially to close the opening formed therein and to be supportedthereby, a door substantially closing the access opening to said firstnamed space, said door and said shelf serving substantially to preventcirculation of air from said space to the remaining space in thecompartment, and an insulating shield positioned below said shelf andspaced from the walls of said liner to limit the cooling effect of saidevaporator element on the remaining space, whereby the temperature ofture of said first named space.

7. In a multi-temperature refrigerator, a cabinet having a storagecompartment defining liner therein, said liner having a shallowdownwardly opening recess formed in the ceiling thereof, a removablerefrigerating system installed in said cabinet, a plurality of wallopenings in said cabinet to provide access to said storage compartment,a removable insulated wall section closing one of said openings andremovable with said system. a horizontally disposed frame in saidcompartment, said frame being made of a material having low thermalconductivity, means securing said frame to opposite side walls of saidliner, said frame having a central opening therethrough, said systemincluding a pair lof spaced apart generally parallel evaporatorsections, means removably securing one of said sections in said recess,a plate secured to the other of said evaporator sections, meansremovably securing said other of said sections to said frame so thatsaid plate substantially closes the opening therethrough, and tubularmeans interconnecting said evaporator sections, said evaporator sectionsbeing removable through said one opening when one is tilted relative tothe other by bending said tubular means.

8. The combination claimed in claim 7, wherein said plate is so locatedin said frame opening as to form with said frame a gap therebetweenthrough which moisture may drain, and a thermally insulating trayremovably positioned below said frame and said other evaporator sectionso as to receive moisture draining through said gap, said tray limitingthe cooling effect of said other evaporator on the space below saidtray.

EVANS T. MORTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,693,357 .Vassar Nov. 27, 19282,000,787 Philipp May 8, 1935 2,080,239 Summers May 11, 1937 2,132,836Summers Oct. 11', 1938 2,240,178 Brace Apr, 29, 1941 2,289,078 SchellensJuly 7, 1942 2,330,917 Philipp Oct. 5, 1943 2,345,453 Brace Mar. 28,1944 2,345,505 Siedle Mar. 28, 1944 2,361,792 Philipp Oct. 31, 19442,400,191 Coons May 14, 1946 2,470,956 Savidge May 24, 1949 2,489,752Coons Nov. 29, 1949

